Bermudagrass named ‘90NB-Kid’

ABSTRACT

An asexually reproduced variety of bermudagrass with a unique combination of characters including excellent turf performance, aggressive growth, early green up ability, and excellent cold tolerance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

90NB-Kid is a new and distinctly different variety of bermudagrass(Cynodon dactylon) (*SUBFAMILY Eragrostoid, tribe Chloridene). It wasdiscovered near a heavily traveled sidewalk intersection on a collegecampus adjacent to an athletic field in Annapolis (Anne Arundel County),Md. 90NB-Kid was initially recognized and noted because it hadnaturalized and was thriving under heavy traffic in the extreme northernpart of the transition zone (therefore, the range of bermudagrassadaptability).

A very small initial amount of the 90NB-Kid plant material was asexuallypropagated at a research and development farm near Baskerville(Mecklenburg County), Va. This was done by cutting stolons and rhizomes,rooting these in soil and planting the rooted cuttings to provide stockfor studying performance and for comparisons with existing commercialand experimental varieties of bermudagrass. 90NB-Kid retained bothperformance and morphological characteristics after this propagation andafter repeated repropagation prior to DNA testing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

90NB-Kid is distinguished from other varieties of bermudagrass by thecombination of excellent turf performance, particularly in resistance todisease and in recovery from intense traffic and compaction. The plantalso exhibits aggressive growth, early green up ability, and excellentcold tolerance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a patch of the bermudagrass of theinvention at a growth height of about one inch.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of the bermudagrass of the inventionshowing its reproductive parts and some root structure.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the bermudagrass of the inventionshowing its aggressive growth.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of a cross section of the bermudagrass ofthe invention compared to a cross section of Tifway 419.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

90NB-Kid is a new and distinct variety of bermudagrass (Cynodondactylon). The 90NB-Kid variety has been included in the TurfgrassEvaluation Program Trials at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute andState University Turfgrass Research Center in Blacksburg, Va. and at theNorth Carolina State University Turfgrass Field Laboratory in Raleigh,N.C. where it was favorably rated for winter hardiness, along with othercommercial and experimental bermudagrass varieties. In a freeze study,90NB-Kid was rated in the highest statistical grouping using Duncan'srange test, and it was also rated above the Virginia PolytechnicInstitute and State University's release, “Vamont”, which is consideredto be a freeze tolerant bermudagrass.

During extensive observations and studies at the research anddevelopment farm at Baskerville, Va., 90NB-Kid has commenced green upseven (7) to ten (10) days earlier than the other commerciallypropagated bermudagrass on the site. This was regardless of weatherconditions and under comparable cultural practices. Typically, thisoccurs on or about March 25^(th) at this location. However, the earlygreen up did not subject the 90NB-Kid to late freeze damage.

This vigorous northern bermudagrass variety is easily transplanted bystolons or by sod and develops rapidly. Under proper mowing andfertility regimes, coverage from a planting demonstrates that thestolons spread laterally at a rate of 1.8 cm per day, which is also tosay that 18 cuttings (sprigs) per square foot reach 90-100 percentground cover in 45 days. 90 NB reliably produces a commercial sod, thatwhen conventionally lifted is capable of not tearing apart when thestrip is supported by ten (10%) percent of its length. It has a pleasingblue-green color, a medium fine texture, is very aggressive in itsgrowth, has excellent resistance to and recovery from intense trafficand compaction, along with excellent cold temperature tolerance. TheTurf Research Center, VPI & SU, Blacksburg, Va., conducted freezestudies during 1997 on 90NB-Kid and GN-1 bermudagrass cultivars, using afreeze chamber designed for this purpose. This process is conductedusing washed grass materials (no soils), therefore, the temperaturereadings do not related to ambient temperatures, but rather to actualsoil temperatures. GN-1 suffered damage (the ability to regrow normally)at +22 degrees Fahrenheit. When subjected to +18 degrees Fahrenheit,complete loss occurred. 90NB-Kid was subjected to +15 degrees Fahrenheitwithout injury (somewhat less than “Vamont” bermudagrass), and at +14degrees Fahrenheit noticeable injury was observed, meaning the thresholdfor cold hardiness was between +15 degrees and +16 degrees Fahrenheit.

Salt tolerance is good and shade tolerance is average being somewhatbetter than many other bermudagrass varieties. Over a period of nine (9)years of observation, 90NB-Kid has not been seen to be susceptible toany disease or insect organisms. The fungus “dollar spot” (Sclerotiniahomeocarpa) has been observed on the plants without causing anypathological symptoms. Under current management practices no significantthatch development has been evident even without clipping removal orcultivation. Overall, this new variety has excellent turf qualitycharacteristics and a high degree of aggressiveness exceeding those ofother cold tolerant bermudagrasses. This favorable combination hasproven to be ideal for use on athletic fields of all types. To date,90NB-Kid has been demonstrated on soccer and football fields as farnorth as Pennsylvania, and as far south as Florida with very favorableresults in overall performance and durability.

The pleasing bluish-green color and texture can be seen in FIG. 1, andthe vigor of the growth can be seen in FIG. 3 where the stolons betweentwo patches of 90NB-Kid bermudagrass represent only ten (10) day'sgrowth. This aggressive growth is remarkable. In a nineteen (19)-daywear-recovery test, the highly regarded Vamont received a high 4.0rating, while the grass of the invention received an even higher 4.3rating. Similarly, 90NB-Kid received one of the highest wear toleranceratings; and, its four (4)-day recovery was even more favorable thanVamont. This, therefore, is a major reason why 90NB-Kid is particularlysuited for athletic fields.

FIG. 4 shows a comparison between sod pieces of 90NB-Kid and thewell-textured Tifway 419. The 90NB-Kid (on the left) is slightlycoarser, but the texture of the 90NB-Kid permits it to withstand moretraffic, and it recovers from wear almost twice as fast. FIG. 4 showsthat 90NB-Kid has deep rhizomes, which may contribute to its coldhardiness. Also, its rhizomes and stolons are shown to be of a robustnature which accounts for its outstanding wear recovery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Parentage: Unknown (a natural mutation).

Propagation: Vegetative (asexual) by means of planting chopped stolonsand rhizomes.

Growth habit: A low-growing warm season stoloniferous rhizomatousperennial grass forming a dense sod. Rhizomes are found at a depth ofgreater than 5 cm., allowing rapid regrowth and recovery from thick sodharvesting (3.75-4 cm.). Stolons and rhizomes branch from the nodes.

Average node diameter.—1.6 mm.

Average internode diameter.—1.0 mm.

Average internode length.—1.8 cm.

Leaf blade: Glabrous, folded in the bud shoot, 2.2-3.5 cm in length,1.75-2.1 mm in width with parallel venation visible under lowmagnification (10×), tapers toward the tip to an acute point. Slightlyvariable with fertility and micro-fertility regimes.

Sheath: Open, shorter than the internode.

Ligule: A whitish fringe of hairs 1mm in length.

Collar: Narrow and continuous, constricted at the mid vein.

Auricle: Absent.

Inflorescence: Sparsely produced; not produced at typical athletic turfmowing heights of 1.25-3.75 cm. When produced, 4 to 5 digitate spikeletsbearing seeds found to be of very low number and viability such as to beincompatible with commercial sod production.

Unmowed height: 15 cm.

Colors of Plant Parts as Compared to the Pantone ® Book of Color, L.Eiseman & L. Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, NY, NY @ 1990:Area of 90NB-Kid Pantone Color Description Leaf Surface Chive Leafunderside Black Forest Rhizome Brown Stolon Sheath Grasshopper striatedwith Pale Star Culm Peridot Spikelet Chive 3 each 21 mm long, 10 mmdiameter, total seed head 50 mm tall Ligule Frozen Dew Fringe of hairsCollar Frozen Dew Narrow band restricted centrally Anthers Dawn PinkStigmas Black Forest Lemmas Cidrada Node Moth Internode Murmur

Rooting: As 90NB-Kid is vegatively propagated the roots arise from nodesof both stolons and rhizomes (nodal or adventitious roots), which are inthe ground contact. Thus, the entire root system can be characterized asadventitious roots that develop further along laterally and tend tobecome rudimentary unless the stolon or rhizome is severed. In this casethe rudimentary roots rapidly develop to support the severed portion ofthe plant. This is the reason that the variety is so easily vegetativelyreproduced.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of bermudagrass plant,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularlyas to novelty by excellent turf performance, especially traffic andcompaction resistance and recovery, excellent color and turf density,aggressive growth, early green up ability, and excellent cold tolerance.